Telescopic Plunger for Minimizing Human Breast Milk Fat Loss in a Combination Collection Container and Syringe

Abstract

An apparatus includes a telescopic plunger extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The telescopic plunger includes a plurality of telescoping segments. The plurality of telescoping segments are secured together in an end-to-end configuration and expandable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The apparatus further includes a collection container secured to the distal end of the telescopic plunger. The collection container defines a barrel having at least one inner wall. The collection container is configured to hold a liquid containing fat molecules therein. As such, a distal-most telescoping segment of the plurality of telescoping segments of the telescopic plunger is configured to sweep the inner wall(s) of the collection container to remove the fat molecules from the inner wall(s) of the collection container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a telescopic plunger extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the telescopic plunger comprising a plurality of telescoping segments, the plurality of telescoping segments secured together in an end-to-end configuration and expandable between a collapsed position and an expanded position; and   a collection container secured to the distal end of the telescopic plunger, the collection container defining a barrel comprising at least one inner wall, the collection container configured to hold a liquid containing fat molecules therein,   wherein a distal-most telescoping segment of the plurality of telescoping segments of the telescopic plunger is configured to sweep the at least one inner wall of the collection container to remove the fat molecules from the at least one inner wall of the collection container.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the telescopic plunger comprises a plunger base and the distal end comprises a plunger head configured to be inserted within the barrel of the collection container. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plunger base comprises a handle configured to be grasped by a user. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plunger head comprises a seal configured to provide a fluid-tight seal when the plunger head is inserted within the barrel of the collection container, the seal configured to sweep the at least one inner wall of the barrel of the collection container to remove the fat molecules therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the seal is an O-ring. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plunger head defines a generally cylindrical-shaped body comprising a concave indentation extending around a circumference of the cylindrical-shaped body, the concave indentation configured to receive the O-ring. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of telescoping segments comprises a different diameter such that the plurality of telescoping segments are nested together in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of telescoping segments each comprise at least one groove and at least one pin, wherein the at least one pin of one of the plurality of telescoping segments is configured to be received in the at least one groove of an adjacent telescoping segment of the plurality of telescoping segments for locking the telescoping plunger in the expanded position. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one groove of each the plurality of telescoping segments comprises an elongated portion and a locking portion extending from the elongated portion, wherein the at least one pin of one of the plurality of telescoping segments extends in the at least one groove of the adjacent telescoping segment in the expanded position such that the at least one pin slides along the elongated portion and is locked in place when the at least one pin is disposed in the locking portion. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one groove of each of the plurality of telescoping segments comprises at least one of an L-shape, a J-shape, or an S-shape. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the collection container defines a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the collection container comprising a syringe having a syringe tip. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a feeding tube in fluid communication with the syringe tip. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a storage cap secured to the distal end of the collection container and acting as a lid to the collection container, wherein the telescopic plunger is at least partially housed within the storage cap. 
     
     
         14 . A telescopic plunger, comprising:
 a body comprising a plurality of telescoping segments secured together in an end-to-end configuration and expandable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the body of the telescopic plunger extending between a proximal end and a distal end,   wherein a distal-most telescoping segment of the plurality of telescoping segments of the telescopic plunger is configured to sweep an inner wall of a barrel of a collection container secured at the distal end of the telescopic plunger to remove fat molecules from the at least one inner wall of the collection container.   
     
     
         15 . The telescopic plunger of  claim 14 , wherein the proximal end of the telescopic plunger comprises a plunger base and the distal end comprises a plunger head configured to be inserted within the barrel of the collection container. 
     
     
         16 . The telescopic plunger of  claim 15 , wherein the plunger base comprises a handle configured to be grasped by a user. 
     
     
         17 . The telescopic plunger of  claim 15 , wherein the plunger head comprises a seal configured to provide a fluid-tight seal when the plunger head is inserted within the barrel of the collection container, the seal configured to sweep the at least one wall of the barrel of the collection container to remove the fat molecules therefrom. 
     
     
         18 . The telescopic plunger of  claim 17 , wherein the plunger head defines a generally cylindrical-shaped body comprising a concave indentation extending around a circumference of the cylindrical-shaped body, the concave indentation configured to receive the seal. 
     
     
         19 . The telescopic plunger of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of telescoping segments comprises a different diameter such that the plurality of telescoping segments are nested together in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         20 . The telescopic plunger of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of telescoping segments each comprise at least one groove and at least one pin, wherein the at least one pin of one of the plurality of telescoping segments is configured to be received in the at least one groove of an adjacent telescoping segment of the plurality of telescoping segments for locking the telescoping plunger in the expanded position.